Double wobble plate compressors

ABSTRACT

The double wobble plate is constituted by two conical elements. The transverse wall passes through the common top of the two conical elements and comprises an aspirating space and a delivery space. The invention is particularly useful for compressors for compressing noxious or toxic gases.

United States Patent [191 [111 3,816,037 Germain June 11, 1974 [54] DOUBLE WOBBLE PLATE COMPRESSORS [56] References Cited [75] Inventor: Roger Louis Elysee Germain, UNITED STATES PATENTS Maisons Laffitte, France 2,860,828 11/1958 .lonassen 418/53 X [73] Assigneez Societe Nafionale DEtude et de 2,887,059 5/1959 Cornelius 418/53 Construction de Moteurs DAviation, Paris France Primary Examzner-C. J. Husar Assistant Examiner-Leonard Smith [22] Filed: Jan. 3, 1973 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Larson, Taylor & Hinds [21] Appl. No: 320,705

7 [57] ABSTRACT The double wobble plate is constituted by two conical [3O] Fomgn Apphcatlon Pnomy Data elements. The transverse wall passes through the com- Jan. 25, 1972 France 72.525 mon top of the two conical elements and comprises an aspirating space and a delivery space. The invention is (Cll. particularly useful for compressors for compressing [58] Field of Search 418/49, 50, 51, 52, 53- mxlous tom gases 7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PAIENTEDJHM m4 3x3 1603'! SHEET 20F 3 PATENTEDJUN I 1 I974 SHEET 3 0F 3 N mm wan 1 DOUBLE WOBBLE PLATE COMPRESSORS The invention relates to double wobble plate compressors, that is to say to compressors comprising:

a double wobble plate constituted essentially by two opposite conical elements whose tops are merged,

motor means for driving this double plate in a movement of nutation around the common top of the two abovesaid conical elements,

a radial partition fast to the double plate and extending between two coplanar generators belonging respectively to the two conical elements,

a casing surrounding the double plate and having two spherical sealing bearings,

a transverse wall whose middle plane passes through the common top of the two conical elements of the double plate, this transverse wall defining with the opposite surfaces of the conical elements, with the surfaces of the radial partition, with the surfaces of the transverse wall, and with the inner surface of the casing, two variable volumes,

and distributing means for supplying these variable volumes as regards the intake and delivery of fluid.

In such compressors, one of the problems which occurs is that of producing fluid-tightness in the zone where the radial partition passes through the transverse wall; in fact, this radial partition is subject to a movement of nutation with respect to the transverse wall.

Another problem encountered in the constitution of such compressors resides in the provision of distributing means; in fact, these distributing means are generally constituted by openings, and it is important that the arrangement of these openings in the two variable volume chambers should reduce as much as possible the theoretical volume of fluid recirculated on each turn of the double plate.

It is an object of the invention to provide an arrangement of the compressor which eliminates the problem of fluid-tightness between the radial partition and the transverse wall, and which resolves in satisfactory manner the problem of providing distributing means.

According to the invention, the transverse wall is hollow and it comprises two distinct spaces:

a first space, called intake space, which has at least one communicating opening arranged close to one of the surfaces of the radial partition and forming communication for the inside of the intake space with the two variable volumes, and at least one intake opening forming a communication for the inside of the intake space with the intake pipe of the compressor,

and a second space, called delivery space, which has at least one communicating opening arranged close to the other surface of the radial partition and forming communication for the inside of the delivery space with the two variable volumes, and at least one delivery opening forming communication for the inside of the delivery space with the delivery pipe of the compressor.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, the communicating opening of the intake space and the communicating opening of the delivery space are respectively defined, partly at least, by two meridianal sections of the hollow transverse wall.

The invention consists, apart from the features which have just been considered, of certain other features which are preferably used at the same time and which will be more explicitly considered below.

The invention will, in any case, be well understood by means of the additional description which follows as well as the accompanying drawings, which description and drawings relate to a preferred embodiment of the invention and do not comprise, of course, any limiting character.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a section of one embodiment of the compressor constructed according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the most important members of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section along the line III-III of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are two diagrammatic views showing, by means of certain members of the compressor in developed views, the cycle of operation of the aforesaid embodiment.

In FIGS. 1 to 3, there is shown a double wobble plate compressor which comprises,

a double plate 1 constituted by two conical elements 2 and 3 whose tops are merged at 0,

motor means, such as an electric motor 4 (FIG. 1), to drive this double plate 1 in a movement of nutation around the common top 0 of the two conical elements 2 and 3,

a radial partition 5 (FIGS. 2 and 3), fast to the double plate 1 and extending between two coplanar generators belonging respectively to the two conical elements 2 and 3,

a casing 6 (FIG. 1) surrounding the double plate 1 and having two spherical fluid-tight bearings 7 and 8, respectively relative to the conical elements 2 and 3 of the abovesaid double plate 1,

a transverse wall 9 (FIGS. 1 and 2) whose middle plane P passes through the common top 0 of the two conical elements 2 and 3 of the double plate 1, this transverse wall 9 defining with the facing surfaces of the conical elements 2 and 3, with the surfaces of the radial partition 5, with the surfaces of the transverse wall 9, and with the inner surface of the casing 6, variable volumes l0 and 11.

Distributing means are then provided to supply these variable volumes l0 and 11 as regards the intake and the delivery of the fluid.

The conical elements 2 and 3 have respectively two spherical bearings 12 and 13 co-operating with the cor- .responding spherical bearings 7 and 8 of the casing 6,

sealing segments 14 being positionable in these spherical bearings 12 and 13.

The two conical elements 2 and 3 are connected by a spherical bearing 15 co-operating with a spherical bearing 16 formed by the inner edge of the transverse wall 9.

The double plate 1 thus constituted is borne by a support 17 pivotally mounted on a crank arm 18 inclined with respect to the perpendicular at the middle plane P of the transverse wall, the axis of this crank arm 18 passing through the common top 0 of the conical elements 2 and 3. This crank arm 18 is borne by a crank pin 19 rotated, through gears 20, by the electric motor 4.

The compressor thus constituted comprises an intake pipe 21 extending through an enclosure 22 surrounding the casing 6, and a delivery pipe 23 passing through this enclosure 22 to be connected with the casing 6.

This enclosure 22 is connected on a frame 24 on which the casing 6 is fixed, by a flange 2S and bolts (not shown), the crank pin 19 being held in a bearing 26 arranged in this frame 24.

This frame 24 has a tubular extension 27 surrounding the support 17 and connected in fluid-tight manner to this support 17 through at least one deformable wall 28, advantageously constituted by a metallic bellows, this tubular extension 27 having two spherical bearings 29 and 30 co-operating respectively with two spherical bearings 31 and 32 arranged on the support 17.

To avoid the assembly constituted by the double plate 1 and the support 17 being rotated, there is provided a gearing 33 on the support 17, advantageously between the two spherical bearings 31 and 32, this gearing 33 meshing with teeth 34 arranged on the tubular extension 27 of the frame 24, advantageously between the two spherical bearings 29 and 30.

To constitute the distributing means of the variable volumes 10 and 11, recourse is had to the arrangement illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 and constituting making the transverse wall 9 include two distinct spaces 35 and 36 isolated from one another by a seperation 37.

The first space 35 is an intake space which has at least one communicating opening 38 arranged close to one of the surfaces of the radial partition and forming a communication of the inside of the intake space 35 with the two variable volumes l0 and 11, and at least one intake opening 39 forming communication inside the intake space 35 with the enclosure 22 and the intake pipe 21.

The second space 36 is a delivery space which has at least one communicating opening 40 arranged close to the other surface of the radial partition, and forming a communication of the inside of the delivery space 36 with the two variable volumes and 11, and at least one delivery opening 41 forming communication of the inside of the delivery space 36 with the delivery pipe 23.

The communicating opening 38 of the intake space 35 is advantageously defined by a meridial section of the transverse wall 6, which hence has an open end facing one of the sides of the radial partition 5.

' The communicating opening 40 of the delivery space 36 is advantageously defined by a part of the meridial section of the transverse wall 9, which therefore has one end partially open facing the other side of the radial partition 5.

The angular separation a (FIG. 3) existing between these two communicating openings 38 and 40 is selected by taking into account the thickness of the radial partition 5, the amplitude of the movement of this radial partition 5, and the passage cross-sections which must exist between the contour of these two communicating openings 38 and 40 and the opposite'surfaces of the radial partition 5. 1

As regards the respective importance of the intake 35 and delivery 36 spaces, it should be indicated that the intake space 35 extends over the major portion of the transverse wall 9.

The angular extent of the intake space 35 can be 300, whilst the angular extent of the delivery space 36 is of the order of 35, the angular separation existing between the two communicating openings 38 and 40 being then Under these conditions, it is advantageous to make the intake space 35 comprise several intake openings 39,such as for example three intake openings distributed at regular intervals, from the communicating opening 38, over an angular extent of about In FIGS. 4 and 5, there is shown a developed and diagrammatic view of the double plate 1 and of the transverse wall 9 arranged as has been described. In these FIGS. 4 and 5, the same reference numerals denote the same members as in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

In FIG. 4, the conical element 2 of the double plate defines a variable volume 10 separated, by the contact generator between this conical element 2 and the transverse wall 9, into an intake chamber 10a whose volume increases and which is occupied by a fluid in the course of intake and a delivery chamber 10b whose volume diminishes and which is occupied by fluid in the course of delivery; the fluid is aspirated as shown by the arrow F and delivered as shown by the arrow F In this FIG. 4, the conical element 3 of the double plate defines a single variable volume 11 since the contact generator between this conical element 3 and the transverse wall 9 occurs at the level of the radial partition 5, this volume 11 having its maximum value and imprisoning fluid ready for delivery.

In FIG. 5, the conical elements 2 and 3 have advanced in the direction indicated by the arrow (1) and the conical element 2 of the double plate has increased the volume of the aspirating chamber 10a and has reduced the volume of the delivery chamber 10b.

In this FIG. 5, the conical element 3 of the double plate now defines the variable volume 11 separated, by the contact generator between this conical element 3 and the transverse wall 9, into an aspirating chamber 11a whose volume increases and which is occupied by fluid in the course of aspiration and a delivery chamber 1 lb whose volume diminishes and which is occupied by fluid in the course of delivery; the fluid is aspirated as shown by arrows F and delivered as shown by arrows F Finally, there is provided a compressor in which the problem of fluid tightness between the radial wall and the transverse wall is overcome since the said radial partition and the said transverse wall have allowed a passage section to subsist enabling the aspiration and delivery of fluid.

Moreover, the distributingmeans are realised simply and cause a minimum of loss of the theoretical volume of fluid delivered on each turn of the double plate; in fact, the delivery is effected over about 335 and there is only direct communication between aspiration and delivery over 25, and in a phase where the variable volumes 10 or 11 have a very small value.

From the constructional point of view, the devices for sealing and connection are simplified and in particular the enclosure surrounding the casing in which the double plate wobbles is subjected only to the aspiration pressure.

A compressor according to the invention is hence particularly suitable when it relates to the compression of a noxious or toxic gas, such as for example uranium hexafluoride for its isotopic separation.

As is self-evident and as emerges already from the foregoing, the invention is in no way limited to those types of its application, nor to those embodiments of its various parts which have been more especially indicated; it encompasses, on the contrary, all modifications.

I claim:

1. Double plate beat compressor comprising,

a double wobble plate essentially constituted by two connected opposite truncated conical elements whose, conical surfaces converge toward a common point,

motor means for driving this double plate in a movement of nutation around said common point,

a radial partition rigidly fixed to this double plate and extending between the two conical surfaces,

a casing surrounding this double plate, inner spherical surfaces in said casing, outer spherical surfaces at the outer extent of said wobble plate, said inner and outer spherical surfaces cooperating to form two spherical fluid-tight bearings,

a transverse wall whose middle plane passes through said common point, said transverse wall having respective surfaces defining with the wobble plate, including the opposite conical surfaces of the conical elements, with the surfaces of the radial partition, and with the inner surface of the casing two variable volumes,

and distributing means to supply these variable volumes as regards intake and delivery of the fluid,

said transverse wall being hollow and comprising two distinct spaces namely,

an intake space which has at least one communicating opening arranged close to one of the surfaces of the radial partition and forming a communication for the inside of the intake space with the two variable volumes, and at least one intake opening forming a communication for the inside of the intake space with an intake pipe of the compressor,

and a delivery space which has at least one communicating opening arranged close to the other surface of the radial partition and forming a communication for the inside of the delivery space with the two variable volumes and at least one delivery opening forming a communication for the inside of the delivery space with a delivery pipe of the compressor.

2. Compressor according to claim 1, wherein the intake and delivery spaces are isolated from one another by a separation.

3. Compressor according to claim 1, wherein the intake space comprises several intake openings distributed at regular intervals from the communicating opening.

4. Compressor according to claim 1, wherein the communicating opening of the intake space and the communicating opening of the delivery space are respectively defined by part at least of two meridial sections of the hollow transverse wall.

5. Compressor according to claim 4, wherein an angular separation 0: existing between the two communicating openings is selected by taking into account the thickness of the radial partition, the amplitude of the movement of this radial partition, and the crosssections of the passage which must exist between the contour of these two communicating openings and the facing surfaces of the radial partition,

6. Compressor according to claim 1, wherein the intake space extends over the major portion of the transverse wall.

7. Compressor according to claim 6, wherein the angular extent of the intake space is of the order of 300, the angular extent of the delivery space is of the order of 35 and the angular separation existing between the two communicating openings is 25.

Zgygg I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE v CERTIFICATE @F CORRECTEQN Patent N0. 3; 816,037 Dated June 11, 1974 Inventods) ROGER LEWIS GERMAIN It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are-hereby corrected as shown below:

Item '(30) foreigh application priority data, should read: 1

January 7 1972 France 72 0o525--.

Signed and sealed this 19th day of November 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

McCOY M. GIBSON JR. Attest-ing- Officer C. MARSHALL DANN Commissioner of Patents 

1. Double plate beat compressor comprising, a double wobble plate essentially constituted by two connected opposite truncated conical elements whose, conical surfaces converge toward a common point, motor means for driving this double plate in a movement of nutation around said common point, a radial partition rigidly fixed to this double plate and extending between the two conical surfaces, a casing surrounding this double plate, inner spherical surfaces in said casing, outer spherical surfaces at the outer extent of said wobble plate, said inner and outer spherical surfaces cooperating to form two spherical fluid-tight bearings, a transverse wall whose middle plane passes through said common point, said transverse wall having respective surfaces defining with the wobble plate, including the opposite conical surfaces of the conical elements, with the surfaces of the radial partition, and with the inner surface of the casing two variable volumes, and distributing means to supply these variable volumes as regards intake and delivery of the fluid, said transverse wall being hollow and comprising two distinct spaces namely, an intake space which has at least one communicating opening arranged close to one of the surfaces of the radial partition and forming a communication for the inside of the intake space with the two variable volumes, and at least one intake opening forming a communication for the inside of the intake space with an intake pipe of the compressor, and a delivery space which has at least one communicating opening arranged close to the other surface of the radial partition and forming a communication for the inside of the delivery space with the two variable volumes and at least one delivery opening forming a communication for the inside of the delivery space with a delivery pipe of the compressor.
 2. Compressor according to claim 1, wherein the intake and delivery spaces are isolated from one another by a separation.
 3. Compressor according to claim 1, wherein the intake space comprises several intake openings distributed at regular intervals from the Communicating opening.
 4. Compressor according to claim 1, wherein the communicating opening of the intake space and the communicating opening of the delivery space are respectively defined by part at least of two meridial sections of the hollow transverse wall.
 5. Compressor according to claim 4, wherein an angular separation Alpha existing between the two communicating openings is selected by taking into account the thickness of the radial partition, the amplitude of the movement of this radial partition, and the cross-sections of the passage which must exist between the contour of these two communicating openings and the facing surfaces of the radial partition.
 6. Compressor according to claim 1, wherein the intake space extends over the major portion of the transverse wall.
 7. Compressor according to claim 6, wherein the angular extent of the intake space is of the order of 300*, the angular extent of the delivery space is of the order of 35* and the angular separation existing between the two communicating openings is 25*. 